Gold looks good for Bath

Gary Gold: has revealed on South African radio that he is heading to the Rec

Gary Gold has revealed he will take over in charge of Aviva Premiership side Bath next season.

The South African, who has spent the last four months as interim coach at Newcastle, told Ballz Visual Radio he will be the new man in charge at the Rec.

Bath have been searching for a new director of rugby after it was announced Sir Ian McGeechan would leave the club at the end of the season. His final game in charge was Saturday's 28-3 defeat away to Leicester.

Speaking to the South African radio station, Gold said of his new coaching role: "It's been a long road. We've been talking for six months already.

Good opportunity

"There's a good opportunity to go back to the Premiership and see what the game's like over there. It's a great privilege and I'm really excited."
Gary Gold Quotes of the week

"There's a good opportunity to go back to the Premiership and see what the game's like over there. It's a great privilege and I'm really excited.

"(Bath have) got a new owner and he's really put his heart and soul into the club. I'm really excited and I'm taking some pretty good coaches with me.

"Bath is a wonderful place and the West Country in England is really the heart of rugby in the UK. I'm really relishing the challenge."

Gold failed to keep the Falcons in the top flight during his short stint, though they could yet get repreive if Bristol don't win the Championship play-offs.

He was part of South Africa's coaching staff at the World Cup in New Zealand last autumn and admitted it was a tough decision to end his links with the Springboks.

"As you know I loved my time with the Springboks," Gold said, "But it's time to move on. I'll miss it terribly because they're an unbelievable group of people."